Louise Bagshawe: I’m no Cameron Cutie, but a feminist

Louise Bagshawe, the upfront novelist, makes for an unusual Conservative Party
candidate, roundly stating that those who don’t like her feminism shouldn’t
vote for her.

Louise BagshawePhoto: TONY BUCKINGHAM

By Tim Walker

9:58PM BST 06 Apr 2010

But what could have provoked such an excess of wrath?

The candidate for Corby and East Northants, who has sold some two million “chick lit” works, was fulminating over the loathed label of Cameron Cutie.

Despite being regularly pictured as one of the golden girls hopeful of winning a seat in the forthcoming election, Ms Bagshawe tells Mandrake: “I don’t like it, I think it’s sexist. It is as sexist as Blair Babes was.

“It goes back to the old chestnut that if a woman is good-looking, or even just a woman, then she must necessarily be a moron. It’s not good, it’s not right.

“I am a feminist and I don’t care who knows it. If you don’t like it, don’t vote for me.”

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Mandrake can reveal Sir Ian’s memoirs, Policing Controversy, have sold just over 6,100 in three months. This, however, still beats efforts from the Yard’s Andy Hayman and Brian Paddick.

Hayman, ex-head of anti-terrorism, has flogged 2,800 copies of Terrorist Hunters, while Paddick, former Deputy Assistant Commissioner, has sold around 1,600 copies of Line of Fire in two years.

It’s all geek to me

Stephen Merchant, writing partner of comedian Ricky Gervais and co-star of Extras, is insouciant about the demands of acting. He tells Mandrake: “Well, the thing about acting is it is tremendously easy. And if your range is lanky West Country geek, which is chiefly where my skill lies, then it’s even easier."